Meet Artpark's No. 1 fan

Band superfan and perennial Artpark attendee Brian Long (speaking to this writer) keeps the music in his heart by keeping his heart close to the music.

by
Stacey Czerwinski

If
you find yourself in front of the stage this summer at Artpark,
you'll notice one person leading the legion of adoring fans. In
fact, every week for the past five years, Artpark concertgoers have
seen him swaying to the music, rooted so close to the stage he could
almost touch the bands.

But
who is he?

This
mystery man is 35-year-old Brian Long of Newfane.

Long
has been a steadfast Artpark groupie, attending almost all of the
shows in the "Tuesday in the Park" concert series.

The
question is: How does he continue to get the best seat in the house -
week after week? And what draws him to the scene?

"I
have a love for music - any music," Long says. It is that love
for music that inspires him to get to the shows between 2:30 and 4:30
p.m. every Tuesday (ahead of the 6:30 p.m. start), and even the
occasional Wednesday, to secure prime standing room.

In
addition to feeling the music he so craves to immerse himself in,
attending the shows also allows him to meet new people. Long says he
enjoys the company he finds at the shows.

He
has become a favorite of the volunteers and workers, too - even
befriending some.

"It's
an easy way to meet people," he says.

Artpark
began charging admission fees this summer for "Tuesday in the
Park." But this recent change did not deter the venue's most
devoted fan.

Long
has been on hand for "Tuesday in the Park" headliners Kansas,
Foreigner, Huey Lewis & The News, Sublime with Rome, YES, Heart
and the Steve Miller Band. He says Heart was his favorite: "I am a
longtime fan."